Making Room For The Unimaginable

On December 15 I got a message that still stuns me. Yoga Journal  reached out to me to let me know that I had been selected, along with 7 other teachers, as their "teachers of the year." My reaction was similar to when my longtime friend and now business partner, Lisa, suggested that I should get certified to teach yoga: "Who? ME?!" That's not intended as self-deprecating. Rather, I never (ever!) thought that I could or would teach yoga, and even after teaching thousands of classes and leading international retreats, I would never expect to be recognized by THE yoga industry publication as a teacher making a "profound difference" broader than perhaps to those people who do yoga with me.

What can just about anyone learn from this experience?

• Show up. Some of my close friends and family have heard me say (very) frequently that "90% of life is showing up." In this regard it relates to how Yoga Journal even knows who I am. For three years now, originally encouraged by my sister-in-law and still one of my primary supporters, Meaghan, I have posted to social media short meditations, usually about one minute in length. I have done this three times per week, every week, almost without fail, for three years. Somewhere in there, the people at Yoga Journal  took notice. Believe me, many times I had the inclination to stop doing this but then something would happen, which takes me to the next point.

• Encourage people! Literally every single time I thought I would quit doing this I would have someone say to me in person, "I love your videos" or "thank you so much for today's meditation." That would keep me going. The world has more than enough detractors! Be a person who cheers people on in their endeavors: Hit the "like" button; make encouraging comments; support their actions. It matters!

• Be your authentic self. Prior to this recognition, one of the highlights of my year as it relates to yoga was when my friend, Sara, an author and coach, wrote a Substack article about taking one of my classes. She called it "non-performative" yoga. When I teach a yoga class, I want people to leave feeling good about themselves, not frustrated because it was too hard. I am a nearly 64 year old guy who has benefited beyond measure from the gift of yoga, and I want to share that with as many people as possible.

• Make room for the unimaginable. Another dear friend, and a teacher I really look up to, Kelly, shared this quote with me. I never imagined I would teach yoga; I never imagined I would lead sold out international retreats; I never imagined that Yoga Journal  would feature me (of all people!) as one of their "teachers of the year." But I DID leave room for that possibility. I recently spoke with a group of future yoga teachers and someone asked me "how" I had done so many of these things. My response was that I walked through doors which the universe had opened. What are you not doing, or dream are you not chasing, because you haven't left room for the possibility that YOU can do it? If nothing else, take this as a sign that, yes, you can!

What's ahead for 2026?

• I have just stuck my toe in the water of offering mindfulness programs in workplaces. This will ramp up in the new year. Intrigued about this for your place of work? Reach out!

• I was recently certified by the Prison Yoga Project  to offer yoga programs in incarceration facilities and I expect some of this will begin in early 2026.

• I will continue teaching yoga! I LOVE teaching beginners and those who "can't imagine" doing yoga. Lisa and I still teach several classes per week via zoom and we would love to see you "on the screen" in one of our classes. If you are local to Annapolis I teach on Mondays at 10AM at the most beautiful studio anywhere, Groundswell.

• Travel! We have 4 international trips planned for 2026, after having led 3 in 2025. These trips are nothing short of magical and the only trip that is still available for booking is our trip to the Galapagos in October.

The purple button at the bottom will take you to links to "all the things" but I will also highlight two here:

• If by chance starting to meditate is one of your new year's resolutions, I have been doing a daily 5 minute live meditation on Instagram at 7AM EST on most weekdays. That brief meditation is then posted on Instagram. Free and just 5 minutes! Profile linked in the purple button below. Similarly, I lead a longer (15 minutes) meditation on Fridays at 7:15AM EST on Insight Timer.

• Take a yoga class via zoom with Lisa or me! From the comfort of your own home means no traffic and no self-consciousness. Schedule also linked in the purple button below.

Link to Everything